SEC, ESPN to formally announce launch of SEC network next week

The long-awaited SEC network appears to be a step closer to reality. The conference and ESPN will formally announce the league's channel, which will launch in August 2014, at an event in Atlanta on Tuesday, according to SportsBusiness Journal.

The yet-to-be-named SEC network is slated to be a national channel, much like the Big Ten and Pac-12 networks before it. According to SBJ, the league cleared its biggest hurdle by re-aquiring part of its TV rights from IMG College, Learfield Sports and CBS Collegiate Sports Properties, which include one football game, eight men’s basketball games, baseball, women’s basketball and other sports not claimed by ESPN or another partner.

The SEC will now spend the month until the launch building the network, including hiring staff. More details to come next week.